Wonderwall

Russian court denies Pussy Riot's Alekhina parole

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian court has denied parole to a member of the Pussy Riot punk group.

In its ruling Thursday, the court accepted a claim by prosecutors that Maria Alekhina had systematically disobeyed prison authorities and failed to repent for her crime, Russian media reported.

Alekhina went on a hunger strike Wednesday after being barred from the court hearing in Perm province, and she ordered her defense not to participate.

Band members Alekhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, and Yekaterina Samutsevich gained worldwide notoriety last year when a Moscow court jailed them for two years for conducting a punk protest in Moscow's main cathedral.

Samtusevich was later released on appeal.

Alekina's lawyer said she would appeal Thursday's court's decision.

A court in the province of Mordovia denied Tolokonnikova parole last month.